VOLUME 15, ISSUE 3 November 2016

It is good to be alive, and to have a chance to think together once again. God have given us so many good gifts, and yet it can be so easy to find ourselves bogged down in the stuff of life, and the losses and pains suffered. The Sermons in October focused on the prophetic response after the fall of Jerusalem and as the Babylonian Captivity begins. That can be a bit dark and difficult as a theme, even though the intention was to find hope “after the disaster”. It has been pointed out to me that I was perhaps “stuck in a bit of a rut” and losing focus on the blessings we live in and among. Thank you for that helpful reminder. We live in a time of miracles. Who knows what tomorrow may bring, but God has already worked wonders in our time in so many different areas of our lives that we can be-come blind to the wonders all around us. So many things to marvel at, and we tend to focus on small divisions of skin color, politi-cal inclination, gender, or sexual preference. It is silly, really. Instead, while this letter will greet you just as the politics of our day come to a head, let us think about some of the miracles we daily experience all around us. Rarely these days do women die in child-birth, or children die in infancy. These changes by themselves have broken a cycle of pain and loss so pervasive it comes to us as a direct consequence of the fall in Gene-sis. Another remarkable change has been in farming. We are so much more productive with our farms that not only has the world not run out of food, as was repeatedly pre-dicted, but instead have produced an abun-dance with an ever-dwindling portion of the population directly involved in farming and food preparation.

At the same time, social changes have wel-comed women into the workplace, freed a great many people to pursue their passions in the arts and sciences, and offered each of us pictures and stories from peoples we have not only never met, but likely never will in person. This freedom has allowed us to study and learn, to expand our horizons and see much farther, smaller, deeper, and wider in so much of our world that the expansion of human knowledge is without precedent. We have engineers who build more with less, whose products (like cell phones) have reached down into the poorest households, and whose genius has transformed the way we understand ourselves and our connec-tions with each other in bigger ways than the pictures of earth from the moon ever did. I can, at a whim, discover not only “who was the MVP of the 1964 World Series”, but also “how do airplanes fly” just by ask-ing my phone. This has become so perva-sive that it is growing hard to remember when “reference” was an entire section of the Library, and traveling salesman went door-to-door selling encyclopedias. We each now carry one that continually updates and is always available in our pockets. In so many ways, we humans are more pow-erful, more connected with each other and with our world than has ever been possible before. And yet, with all of these miracles all around us, how easy it is to complain, grumble, and forget. Humans have been doing that for a long time, too. God is still the giver of all good gifts. Remember today to thank him for his amazing generosity. Grace and peace,

Travis

TOWER

THE

OPEN HEARTS

Lovely Lane United Methodist Church

MOTHER CHURCH OF

AMERICAN METHODISM

† † †

2200 Saint Paul Street Baltimore MD 21218-5805

Worship 11:00 AM

Office Hours Monday — Friday

9 AM — 2 PM

Phone 410-889-1512

Email

LovelyLane.BCS@gmail.com

Website LovelyLane.net

PASTOR Rev. Travis Knoll

LAY LEADER John Strawbridge

ORGANIST Bill Scanlan Murphy

PASTOR EMERITA Rev. Nancy Nedwell

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Lena Leone

SEXTON Ivan Reyes

To the Saints at Lovely Lane-

THE TOWER November 2016

Tour Guides November 6 Linda Webb

November 13 Carol Curtis

November 20 Lee Enos November 27 Sarah Scribner

Greeters

November 6 Linda Webb & Elizabeth Brannan November 13 Jackie Noller & Betsy Fisk

November 20 Aimee & Ken Delany

November 27 The Knoll Family

*Correction In Memory of

JoAnn Wilson Rose By Eleanor Packard

In Honor of Ivan Reyes & Lena Leone

By Carol Curtis

Korean Pastors & their Families

OPEN DOORS

November 1 All Saints Day

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Psalm 149 or Psalm 150 UMH 862 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31

November 6 Homecoming Sunday

Haggai 1:15b-2:9 Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 UMH 857 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 20:27-38

November 13 26th Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 65:17-25 Isaiah 12 or Psalm 118 UMH 839 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19

November 20 Reign of Christ Sunday

Jeremiah 23:1-6 Luke 1:68-79 UMH 208 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43

November 27 First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122 UMH 845 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:36-44

November 27 In Memory of

Robert G. Castadot By Jackie Noller

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November 20 In Honor of

My Fabulous Family By Betsy Fisk

* ITEMS NEEDED *

LARGE BAGS OF COFFEE & SUGAR

**************

MANNA HOUSE 435 E 25TH STREET

410-889-3001

The Drop-In-Center provides services starting with the morning meal from

8:30 - 10:15 AM every day & continues from 11:30 AM - 4 PM (Mon- Fri).

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Maria Drumm will present a talk at 12:30pm in the Chapel on Sunday, November 13th (following fellowship hour) on her journey and discoveries in Iran, in Bible times referred to as Persia. This interesting and perhaps forbidding land holds many treasures largely unknown in the west in mod-ern times - come discover it with us! All are welcome, and there is no charge for this event.

On Sunday November 20th, following our fellowship hour, we will be decorating the sanctuary and church. All are invited. Mulled Cider and Christmas Music will help us to get into the spirit, as we begin Advent on the 27th. No experience necessary ; )

We continue to collect gifts for the Christmas Shop at the Board of Child Care for the children in our care to “purchase” to give to their families. An extended list was sent in the last newsletter. We can accept these items until Sunday, November 27th. A box to collect these items is in the fellowship hall. Also, Eleanor has ordered “Christmas Stockings”, sometimes called “Red Stockings” for a year end gift to the Board of Child Care. They will be distribut-ed later this month and collected during December to be sent to the BCC to support their ministry with the children.

Once more the Lovely Lane altar will be decorated with the traditional Christmas poinsettias. Memorial and Honorary listings will be printed in both the Christmas bulletin and the January newsletter. To meet the florist schedule and publication deadlines, please have all requests to the church office by Monday, November 28th. Please see the order form enclosed for more information.

Having the last name “Strawbridge” in a United Methodist Church is a fun thing. I get a lot of attention for work that my famous ancestor did. Of course, I also get called “Robert” a lot.

Names are important to us. They are chosen for us before we are born. They sanctified at our christening. Engraved on a headstone, they survive us even when we are gone. They are mere words, but they are how we declare our unique identity in all the world.

So when I am called by my correct first name, John, I should feel like I’m being known for who I am… right? Well, as it turns out, no. You see the first time I got a phone call for “John Strawbridge” but realized it was still a wrong number, I learned that I am not the only John Strawbridge in the world. I’m not even the only one in Maryland. There are at least three others; in Aberdeen, in Pasadena, and in Forest Hill.

And if I do a quick check on-line, I find others in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Texas. Plus a few more in Canada, England, and New Zealand.

How’s that for feeling special?

When you think about it, a name is a very poor identifier. Names can be changed – legally and otherwise. We can take our spouse’s name. We can adopt a nickname. This thing which we think represents us from birth to death and even beyond, is really very arbitrary and unreliable.

Throughout the Bible, people’s names are changed by God. Most famously, Saul becomes Paul. Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter.

And so I wonder; If my earthly names is so easily shared, changed and dismissed, by what name does God call me? Where else would I look for an answer to that question, than the Apostle John?

In John 15:15 I find this, “...I have called you friends...” That should be answer enough. To be called “friend” by Jesus is to know who and what you are. But there is more.

In the first letter of John 3:1; “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called the children of God, and that is what we are.” So more than friend of Jesus – we are the son or daughter of God. Surely that is enough.

But really, these names only tell us how we should identify ourselves. We know that we are the beloved of God. But who does God think that we are?

In John 10:3; “...He calls his sheep by name and leads them out.” In this passage, Jesus is speaking of a “gatekeeper”. For many, this suggest that to enter into God’s Kingdom, we will be called by name.

There are many references in the Bible to our names being written in what is often called “The Book of Life.” In Luke 10:10; “Rejoice that your names are recorded in Heaven.” So we know that God does have name for us. But what is that name?

Of course we can never know God’s name for us. It is un-knowable. But from this, we learn something far more im-portant.

We know that God knows our name! Think of that! Out of more than one-hundred billion people who have ever lived, in God’s kingdom you have a singular and unique name… and God knows you – personally and individually.

We do not need to know our own name, so long as God does. And as long as we know the name of God. For Jesus says (John 14:20), “On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

This, then, is our true identity. That through Jesus, we are one with God.

Peace,

John Strawbridge, LAY LEADER

OPEN MINDS THE TOWER November 2016

From the Lay Leader…

On this Saturday, we will have a work day from 10am-2pm with lunch provided. Please communicate any special die-tary needs to the office in advance. It will be followed by our annual Charge Conference at 2:30pm. All members and friends of Lovely Lane are welcome to join us for one or both. If you plan to stay for both please do not change clothes as it is appropriate for our District Superintendent to see us as a working and vital congregation.

NEWS

We will celebrate Homecoming on Sunday, November 6th in worship and with a potluck following. Please contact Eleanor Packard to indicate whether you will be bringing a main dish, side, salad or dessert. Come and celebrate with us on this 129th anniversary of the dedication of our build-ing. We will also receive pledge cards as we allow our memory of the past to press us into the future.

Every Sunday

Sunday School, Pastor’s Study, 9:45 AM Worship Service, Sanctuary, 11 AM Fellowship Hour/Guided Tour, LL Hall, NOON

Every Wednesday

Baltimore Folk Music Society, LL Hall, 8 PM Weekly Dances

Every Saturday

Seidel Martial Arts, LL Hall, 8 AM

Every Monday & Wednesday

Mother Seton Academy Basketball, Gym, 5 PM

Saturday, November 5

Church Work Day, 10 AM - 2 PM Charge Conference, LL Hall, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Sunday, November 6

* No Sunday School * Homecoming Potluck Luncheon, 12 PM

Thursday, November 10

Cherry Hill High School East Habitat for Humanity Overnight Arrives

Saturday, November 12

Cherry Hill High School East Habitat for Humanity Overnight Departs

Sunday, November 13

Maria Drumm’s Talk: Iran’s Lost Treasures, Chapel, 12:30 PM

Wednesday, November 16

Newsletter Items Due, Office, 2 PM Finance Committee Meeting, Library, 5 PM Trustees Meeting, Library, 7 PM

Saturday, November 19

Baltimore STRIDE Square Dance, LL Hall, 7 PM

Sunday, November 20

Decorating for Advent, 12:30 PM

Thursday & Friday, November 24 & 25

Office Closed for Thanksgiving

OUR MISSION: To celebrate the vision of God ’s Good News in Jesus Christ in liturgy, learning, and life, through the revitalization of our congregation, the restoration of our building, and the strengthening of our traditions, while recognizing our unique presence and mission in Baltimore City.

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2200 ST. PAUL STREET BALTIMORE, MD 21218-5805 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Baltimore, MD Permit No. 6575

TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL Thank you for prompt delivery!

THE TOWER November 2016